These days, many homeowners are choosing to use solar power to heat their homes. Why? Solar energy will help you cut back on your electricity use, making your home more energy efficient and therefore lowering your monthly bills. But, electricity bills aren't the only place you may see savings if you switch to solar. Many states offer homeowners incentives for adopting solar energy, so you may be entitled to cash or credit on your next electric bill if you live in one of these states.
Besides the obvious cash benefits, many people choose to switch to solar to help the environment. Solar energy is renewable, meaning the planet will never run out of it, so it is much more sustainable than using electricity to heat your home.
Are you ready to make the leap to solar power heaters? Here are five options you can try:
Solar Pool Heater
Heating your pool using solar power will save you hundreds of dollars per year. In fact, solar pool heating is considered to be the most cost effective use of solar energy in many parts of the world. These heaters consist of a solar collector, which gathers pool water so it can be heated by the sun, a filter to remove debris, and a pump to circulate the water through the system.
Solar Roof Panels
The roof is the most popular landing spot for solar panels, mainly because it's a flat, large space that faces upwards to the sun. Before you set your heart on getting solar roof panels, make sure it is feasible for your home. It's best when these panels face south, so if this can be done on your roof, you should be able to move forward with the install.
Solar Water Heaters
Why not warm up the water for your next shower using the energy from the sun? Solar water heaters are one of the most cost-effective ways to generate heat inside the home, according to the Energy Department. There are two types of these appliances: active and passive, the former has circulating pumps and controls, while the latter does not. Although the passive design is less expensive, it is not as efficient.
Solar Furnace
Although it's not hard to find solar water heaters, roof panels or pool heaters, it is difficult to find a solar furnace, so it may be best to tackle this as a DIY project. Most of these projects will only require materials you can probably find scattered around your garage, so it shouldn't cost you much to put the furnace together. Once you have it put together, you will be able to heat up one room with just this solar powered furnace, however you can always adjust the instructions to create a larger device that will generate more heat.
Solar-Ready Heaters and Air Conditioners
Once your home collects solar power from panels, where does the energy go? Solar-ready appliances, such as heating and cooling systems. These appliances are designed to use solar energy unless it is not available, in which case the system will rely on external power sources. A number of manufacturers create solar powered heating and cooling systems, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding one that will fit your home.
With so many ways to cut back on energy, help the environment and save money, it's a wonder why more homeowners aren't turning to solar power to heat their homes!
